February 29, 2012

If you missed my post at Tatertots and Jello last week here is a recap. An easy way to ACHIEVE expensive looking pillows

I am thrilled to be sharing a fabulous little secret that is sure to save you MONEY! It was by mistake, but, OH those mistakes, are sometimes, OH so GREAT!

So, last week I went to IKEA in search of one of these:

Ektorp Slipcover

and I came upon one of these:

..And I thought WOW for $.99 I can buy NEW pillows for my ENTIRE home, I started with four beautifully rolled $.99 pillows for my Peanut's room! ...And so it went, I came home and EXCITEDLY opened and unrolled my new pillows to... WELL, pillows that were JUST as flat as the ones I was trying to replace!

New IKEA pillow

Peanut's already flat pillow

Oh, the disappointment, my grand idea of buying pillows for my entire house down the tube. Because, lets face it, a beautiful bed begins with the pillows, and how many of us can go buy an ENTIRE bed full of down filled pillows. If we did it would cost $$$'s, UNLESS we take TWO of the $.99 pillows and put them into the same pillow sham.

..And there you have my IKEA hack, two $.99 pillows that look like a $50.00 down pillow. The way the pillows are stuffed are very similar to a down feather pillow minus A LOT of the down but by combining two of them you get a VERY custom looking pillow and bed.

I know this little tip can save you A LOT of money! I know where I am going when I clean out the washer! :) Stop by and say hi, www.thethreesweetpeas.com

February 28, 2012

This recipe was given to me by a dear friend. Our husbands went on little vacation together and her mother fixed it while they were staying with her parents. The saddest part of the entire story, is her father came in to eat it and there wasn't anything left! I hope you enjoy as much as they did!

Kneaders French Toast - this recipe is for 3 loaves or 24 slices - hope you enjoy it!

3 loaves Kneaders Chunky Cinnamon Bread

8 eggs

3 cups milk

1 TBS brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 TBS vanilla

4 TBS butter

Make sure you use a large cookie sheet that has an edge. Line it with parchment paper (this is key, otherwise it sticks to the pan, caramelies and is impossible to serve) Karen suggested spraying the paper with oil cause some places still stuck to the paper).

Cut each loaf into 8 even slices just before dipping so it doesn't dry out.

Mix all ingredients except butter. dip each slice o f bread in the mixture (in and out of the mixture - don't let it soak).

Don't just pour the mixture over the tip - it doesn't come out the same. If it looks like you might run out of the mixture, just add an egg or two and a little milk, mix again & keep on dipping.

Lay each piece of bread flat on your cookie sheet. You can squish 12 pieces on one large cookie sheet.

Dab each piece of bread with butter

REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT covered with foil.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 35 minutes or until starting to brown. In a convection overm bake 20-22 min.

February 24, 2012

Have you heard the word on the street? There is this GORGEOUS little fabric collection that was just released called VERONA! Emily Taylor is the talented young lady behind this fabirc for Riley Blake, her inspiration, ITALY!

You can make GORGEOUS little things like Angelina from Ruby Jean did, with her fabric.

She has so kindly offered one of her EVER so POPULAR Apron panels to giveaway to one of my readers. Riley Blakes expects a FAST sell out of these beautiful apron panels because of their versatility. Gifts, embellished, make it your own anyway is going to be adorable!

February 23, 2012

Oh, Board and Batten how I love thee! I first fell in love with you several years ago but you finally made your first appearance in my master bedroom about a year ago. ...And ever since then, my LOVE affair has grown! I want you in EVERY room of the house!

So, the next area that WE finally moved on to was the small wall between my pantry and the laundry room. Easy enough TWO boards or was it??

I am here to share with you a SUPER DUPER easy board and batten tip. I am not going to go into details of how to cut, measure, etc, because there are plenty of amazing tutorials out there in bloggy land but this little tip will save you some time!

Instead of using Liquid Nails or nailing the boards to the wall you use HOT GLUE. Yes, you heard me correctly we use hot glue to stick the boards directly to the wall.

Instead of having to putty nail holes or waiting for the liquid nails to dry this technique, is fast and easy. There are a couple of items that are a MUST if using this technique.

You must have two people, one to hold the level on the wall and one to put the hot glue on the back of the board and stick it on the wall before it dries.

Hubby and I would measure the distance between boards, I would hold the level exactly where I wanted the board. Hubby would run the strip of hot glue down the back of the board and then butt the board up next to the level.

Make sure the board is lined up on the bottom and stick to wall. (we had several oops on this small wall, hard to believe that our entire bedroom wall was done faster than the two boards because of some simple mistakes that were made.)

Take two, removing hot glue that had dried because of some simple mistakes.

You must work FAST. The hot glue dries quickly so have your level ready while the other person lines the board up at the bottom and sides. PRESS HARD against the wall.

You must use a LARGE glue gun. We tried using our craft gun. No can do, the glue is dry almost immediately.

Use long glue sticks.

If you have to peel the board off the wall because it didn't get put down quick enough. Pull off with caution, it will rip your sheet rock.

After you place one or two boards you get in a groove and it will save you a TON of time.

Good Luck! If you have any questions about this particular technique please email. ...And a SNEAK peak into one of many walls currently getting this treatment!

February 22, 2012

Good Morning dear friends! Yes, I am back after a long WEEK and a half off. My oldest son was sick and when he gets sick it consumes my days. I am trying really hard to get back into the groove and I think Guest Posting at Tatertots and Jello will definately get me motivated. Stop by for a fabulous NINETY NINE CENT tip that you are sure to love! Hint: It will definately make your bed look better!

February 13, 2012

It has been a CRAZY couple of days, eight year old party & invitations is about all I can come up with, yet I have been swamped all weekend. HMMM, I am going to have to think on that one. I wanted to post my Young Women's New Beginning's Invitations on Sunday but it didn't get done in time. So here it is, hopefully this can be of help! Our President came up with the theme and I created the invitation! :)

I printed the star below on vellum and then the red star shape on my Silhouette. You could use just a star stencil and card stock.. I attached the two together with ribbons that were the colors of the values, at the top. PERFECTO! The stars needs to be printed on an 8x10 sheet.

8x10 size jpeg. Right click and use save as. Open in any photo editing to add personal info.

February 9, 2012

My little guys birthday is this weekend. I am so excited to be CELEBRATING his special day! He is such an ASSET to our family, we love him so much! He is such a HUGE help to his brother & sister. He is the peace maker in our family and has experienced a lot during his six and seven year old age, he will soon be EIGHT!

Meet my buddy, Joshie!

We wanted to celebrate LEGO style so here is his invitation.

There are so many amazing Lego party ideas on Pinterest. Hopefully, this invitation will be a great start. I've included a blank copy for you.

To use it Follow the instructions:

Right click on the image and select save as. Save it on your hard drive somewhere you will remember, I usually place most things under documents.

Next open a photo editing program and open the document, (file, open.) or you will upload if you are using the free program online.

Go to the document location and double click.

Your document will now be open.

Here is where you will select a text box usually a "T" and add your little man's birthday information.

I use Photoshop most people don't. There are tons of free photo editing programs available online, PICNIK will be available until April. Picassa, to name a few.

February 7, 2012

Here is my guest post from TATERTOTS & Jello in case you missed it!!! A LINED basket including the basket for under $5.00! LEARN HOW!

Good Beautiful Day Tatertots and Jello Fans! I am glad to be back after a long winters nap, I had all of December off, no guest post, so I am thrilled to be sharing this DARLING TUTORIAL with each of you.

This should help with those organization projects that are BUZZING everywhere all over the internet. ..AND talk about inexpensive, the total cost of the project was under $5.00.

fabric;I didn't keep track but used, maybe, a 1/4 of a yard, I bought two yards total, but ended up using a fraction of the fabric

cardboard piece;same size as the bottom.

Let's get this party started! You will measure the height, the length of both the long sides, the short sides, and the bottom, and give yourself a 1/2" inch seam allowance on each side.

These are the exact measurements that I used for the Sam's Club Basket, if you choose to purchase the same one, I would DEFINITELY double check the basket dimensions just to make sure they are the same sizes.

18" Length x 10" Height long sides x 2 {one for each side} - This will allow for a 1/2" inseam.

11" Length x 10" Height short sides x 2 {one for each side} - This will allow for a 1/2" inseam.

18" Length x 11" Width for the bottom - This will allow for 1/2 inch inseam.

You will pin a short end to a long end, right sides together. You will notice there will be fabric overhang. Match up each edge and then pin in two little tucks to create a small pleat.

Sew the edges together with a 1/2" seam allowance.

You will repeat this same process four times, alternating short, long, short, long, the last step will be bringing the entire long strip of fabric together.

After the strips are sewn together you can now add the bottom of the basket. Match up the four corners with the seams on the short, long, short, long ends.

The liner is almost finished, just put a hem across the top that will be visible when you fold it over the metal part of the basket. The sewed a 1" hem doubled so you cannot see the raw edge.

You are almost DONE, the last part is the ribbon or fabric strips (I used). I took eight 11" x 2" pieces and sewed two onto each corner. This will allow you to tie the basket liner to the basket. I left the edges raw no hemming.

From each corner I measured six inches down from the top and two inches out from the corner inseam. I turned the fabric under and ran a simple 1/2" seam on each side, one on each corner and you are FINISHED!

CONGRATULATIONS, your adorable basket liner is ready to be placed and you spent under $5.00 including the basket!!

Put the basket liner in the basket and fold over the top wires, bring the ribbon around the outside of each wire and tie in a bow.

One last step because the basket isn't a solid wire I placed a cardboard piece in the bottom of the basket liner.